Tourism development

Effective collaboration with SIS crucial to regional tourism development

At a meeting between the SPTO and SIS members convened in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the countries agreed on a number of priorities including tourism marketing, capacity building, cruise tourism development, air and sea links and tourism investment, to name a few. These priorities have been identified as crucial areas requiring development and funding support and the SPTO has been urged to explore news to support and collaborate with its SIS members which face unique vulnerabilities due to their remote location.

Donor response pleases South Pacific Tourism Organisation

“And the donor agencies are asking for another forum like this so our chairlady has said that we’ll have another one next year,” SPSE chief executive officer Chris Cocker said.

Meanwhile, SPTO chairperson Sonja Hunter said: “We plan to make this an annual forum where our development partners and donors will hear what SPTO has achieved and also to find out what SPTO will be doing for the coming period. So it’s a good because as they always say ‘when they know they will care, when they don’t know they don’t care’.”

Recognising Pacific women’s contribution to tourism development

Making half of the population, Pacific women are represented at every level of the tourism industry from grassroots handcraft producers, and hotel and resort employees, to tourism industry executives.

“Pacific Women are the backbone of our tourism industry. Without the hospitable service that starts from their homes and which they take to the frontlines of the tourism industry, tourists would not have the enriching experiences that guarantee their return to our shores,” said SPTO Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocker.

NZ considers more airport development in Solomons

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who is currently in Honiara for talks, said the Solomons' had spectacular tourism potential.

He said it was necessary to first improve the quality of airports - a process to which Mr McCully has previously committed more than $US22 million dollars of aid money for the development of two airports in Western Province.

He said recently New Zealand had been asked to undertake the same work at several other airports around the country.

Tonga stays open to development without casino

RNZ reports on Monday, an American news agency published a release from Red Warrior Entertainment, claiming Tonga's Cabinet had formalised an agreement including a casino, more than two weeks ago.

In a statement, the government said a proposal was received in November for a development known as the Tavake Tamafua Tourism Investment Project.

The proposal included an airport hotel and shopping mall, luxury villas and a gaming resort.

The statement said Cabinet supported the project subject to legal documents, plans and due diligence.